Power saving arrangement and method in portable cellular telephone system

Abstract

Battery power consumption of a cellular telephone is minimized during the stand-by mode by detecting when a received message is intended for another telephone, and for reducing battery power to at least one of the electronic components at the telephone when the transmitted message is intended for another telephone. Power is restored when the next transmitted message is expected to be received by the telephone.

I claim: 
     
       1. In a system having a base station operative for transmitting messages having repeated words to portable, battery-operated, mobile stations, each having on-board electronic means including receiver means operative for receiving the transmitted messages in a stand-by mode, a power-conserving arrangement for minimizing battery power consumption at one mobile station during the stand-by mode, said arrangement comprising: (a) detector means for detecting that a transmitted message received by the receiver means at said one mobile station is intended for another station in a non-calling state, said detector means including a programmed microprocessor at said one mobile station, said microprocessor having means for determining a time period between successive messages, said time period being a function of the number of words that have been repeated and the number of additional different words to come; and   (b) power-conserving means responsive to detection of the non-calling state, for reducing battery power to at least one of the electronic means at said one mobile station, and for maintaining the battery power reduction throughout said time period.   
     
     
       2. The arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the mobile stations are cellular telephones having unique identification numbers incorporated in the transmitted messages, and wherein the detector means is operative for detecting the unique identification number for the telephone of said one mobile station in a calling state, and for detecting other identification numbers intended for other telephones in the non-calling state; and wherein the power-conserving means is responsive to detection of the other identification numbers for said telephone. 
     
     
       3. The arrangement according to claim 2, wherein the power-conserving means includes control means operatively connected to said at least one electronic means, and operative for controlling battery power to said at least one electronic means. 
     
     
       4. The arrangement according to claim 3, wherein the control means is a control switch operatively connected to the receiver means, and switchable between a pair of switching states in which battery power is supplied and denied, respectively, to the receiver means. 
     
     
       5. The arrangement according to claim 4, wherein the control switch is also operatively connected to a powered display means, and respectively supplies and denies battery power to the display means in the switching states. 
     
     
       6. The arrangement according to claim 3, wherein the power-conserving means includes settable stand-by timer means operatively connected to the control means, and operative for generating a timer output signal for controlling the control means upon elapse of said time period. 
     
     
       7. The arrangement according to claim 6, wherein the control means is operatively connected to a plurality of said electronic means, and wherein the timer output signal simultaneously controls all said electronic means. 
     
     
       8. The arrangement according to claim 6, wherein the control means is operatively connected to a plurality of said electronic means, and wherein the timer output signal sequentially controls all said electronic means. 
     
     
       9. The arrangement according to claim 6, wherein the programmed microprocessor is operatively connected to the stand-by timer means, and is operative for setting the stand-by timer means to generate the timer output signal upon elapse of said time period. 
     
     
       10. The arrangement according to claim 9, wherein the control means is a control switch operatively connected to the programmed microprocessor, and switchable between switching states in which battery power is supplied and denied, respectively, to the programmed microprocessor. 
     
     
       11. The arrangement according to claim 10, wherein the power-conserving means includes a memory means for storing data from the programmed microprocessor, and an address means for storing addresses of the stored data during said time period. 
     
     
       12. The arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the power-conserving means restores battery power upon the elapse of said time period. 
     
     
       13. The arrangement according to claim 12, wherein the power-conserving means includes means for initializing data-dependent electronic means prior to elapse of said time period. 
     
     
       14. In a cellular telephone system operative for transmitting messages having repeated words to portable, battery-operated, mobile cellular telephones, each having on-board electronic means including receiver means operative for receiving the transmitted messages in a stand-by mode, a power-conserving arrangement for minimizing battery power consumption at one cellular telephone during the stand-by mode, said arrangement comprising: (a) detector means for detecting that a transmitted message received by the receiver means at said one cellular telephone is intended for another cellular telephone in a non-calling state, said detector means including a programmed microprocessor at said one cellular telephone, said microprocessor having means for determining a time period between successive messages, said time period being a function of the number of words that have been repeated and the number of additional different words to come; and   (b) power-conserving means responsive to detection of the non-calling state, for reducing battery power to at least one of the electronic means at said one cellular telephone, and for maintaining the battery power reduction throughout said time period.   
     
     
       15. In a system having a base station operative for transmitting messages having repeated words to portable, battery-operated, mobile stations, each having on-board electronic means including receiver means operative for receiving the transmitted messages in a stand-by mode, a method for minimizing battery power consumption at one mobile station during the stand-by mode, said method comprising the steps of: (a) detecting that a transmitted message received by the receiver means at said one mobile station is intended for another station in a non-calling state, said detecting step including determining a time period between successive messages, which time period is a function of the number of words that have been repeated and the number of additional words to come; and   (b) reducing battery power to at least one of the electronic means at said one mobile station in response to detection of the non-calling state, and maintaining the battery power reduction throughout said time period.